Inexpensive Chardonnay
Chardonnay wines are one of the most popular varieties of white wine sold today. They can also be one of the most expensive wines too. Inexpensive Chardonnay Wines do exist but are they really worth it?
The best and most expensive Chardonnay wines are aged in oak barrels. This plays a large part in giving them their unique flavour. In an attempt to produce similar results at more reasonable price, many wineries attempt to duplicate the distinct flavor of Chardonnay grapes aged in oak barrels by soaking the wine oak chips. But, can anyone really produce an inexpensive Chardonnay wine without using oak barrels?
We all know that you get what you pay for and expensive Chardonnay wines are usually expensive for a reason. Inexpensive Chardonnay wines can be dull and lifeless. In fact, many inexpensive Chardonnay wines taste very watered-down with only the faintest hint of smoky oak flavor.
Don't be discouraged however! There are some very good inexpensive Chardonnay wines to be found. You just have know to which brands to look for. Clos du Bois, which costs only about $12, provides a clean and fresh taste with good acidity.
Another brand of inexpensive Chardonnay wine to look for is St. Francis. This brand of inexpensive Chardonnay wine only costs around $11. It's a very well made wine with plenty of fruit taste (especially when you consider the price). The St. Francis winery has become well-known for its exceptional quality in inexpensive Chardonnay wines.
You might also want to try Sutter Home's Chardonnay wine. At around $6 a bottle, this really is an inexpensive Chardonnay wine. Don't be fooled by the price though, Sutter Home really is a very good bottle of inexpensive Chardonnay wine. It's a simple wine with light apple notes and a good body. This inexpensive Chardonnay wine is an excellent accompaniment to most meals and cheeses. (Check Wine and Cheese Pairing, Wine and Food Pairing for more info.)
As you can see, some very good inexpensive Chardonnay wines do exist but they are definitely are big minority on most wine shelves and finding a good inexpensive Chardonnay wine often comes to down to simple trial and error.
The inexpensive Chardonnay wines listed above have all been tested and found to be among the best when it comes to flavor and acidity. But as with everything else, the easiest rule to follow when buying an inexpensive Chardonnay wine is that you usually get what you pay for, which is why we have done the research for you.
It might not be such a big tragedy if you buy a bad bottle of cheap Chardonnay wine the next you going to a party or family get-together. In those cases, you might want to experiment a little and see if you can't turn up a great inexpensive Chardonnay wine selection. But if you are planning on having a nice meal with someone special, you would be well advised to stick with the inexpensive Chardonnay wine recommendations listed in this article or simply "bite the bullet" and buy an expensive Chardonnay wine.
Here are some more Great Chardonnay Wine Recommendations.
